A Wind Turbine designed for the 21st century

When you think of a wind turbine, the massively tall device with huge long rotating blades comes to mind. But the Netherlands-based tech firm The Archimedes has created an unusual styled turbine based around the idea of the nautilus shell. The Liam F1 Urban Wind Turbine is said to have an energy yield that is “80 percent of the maximum that is theoretically feasible.”

Conventional turbines produce an average of 20 to 25 percent energy yield, so this claim, if true, is a giant leap forward. And this new turbine claims to always point into the wind for maximum yield. Also its unique form produces minimal mechanical resistance, so it spins freely and operates quietly, something traditional turbines definitely do NOT do.

The Archimedes also claims that its new turbine will generate “an average of 1,500 kilowatt-hours of energy [per year] at a wind-speed of 5 m/s [16.4 ft/s], which resembles half of the power consumption of a common household.” The company has tested the Liam “over 50 times” and has already sold 7,000 of the turbines in 14 countries. It anticipates the Liam F1 Urban Wind Turbine will be officially available as of July 1st. Although no price is yet available, a previous posting on the company website puts it at €3,999 (about US$5,450).

It will be interesting to see if the real product lives up to its hype. If so, it could lead the wind industry to exciting new heights

Debra Atlas is a freelance environmental writer and eco-enthusiast based in Northern California, and is the Red Ferret’s Ecological Editor. Debra looks for the upside of eco-change – what’s positive, making a difference. She hunts down those interesting things cooked up by creative minds, especially if they’re strange and eccentric.